Roman Olegovich was a prince of Ryazan in the thirteenth century who was put to death in 1270 for refusing to renounce the Christian faith at the demand of the Golden Horde. He belonged to a princely line that, during the period of the Mongol (Tatar) Yoke, was remembered for defending both the Orthodox faith and the lands of Rus'; according to the tradition both of his grandfathers died in the struggle against the Mongol khan Batu. He is commemorated on July 19 and is venerated as a martyr and passion-bearer.
By tradition Roman was born in 1237 and received the Slavic name Yaroslav, taking the name Roman at his baptism. His father, Oleg Ingvarevich, called Krasny ('the Handsome'), returned in 1252 after some fourteen years of captivity among the Mongols, and in 1258 took monastic vows under the name Kosmas, passing the throne of Ryazan to Roman. As prince, Roman devoted himself to his devastated and oppressed subjects and sought to shield them from the exactions of the Khan's baskaki, the tax-collectors charged with gathering tribute for the Horde.
The baskaki resented Roman's protection of his people and brought accusations against him before Khan Mengu-Timur. Summoned to the Horde, the prince was confronted with an ultimatum: to accept the religion of the Tatars or to die. He refused, declaring that a Christian cannot change from the true faith to a false one. For this confession he was subjected to prolonged and savage torture and put to death in 1270.
Veneration of Roman as a martyr is said to have begun immediately after his death, and he was subsequently canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. His memory remained strong in Ryazan, where a church was consecrated in his honor in 1861.
